William A. Nelson April 17, 1938-June 21, 2013

Tuesday

Jun 25, 2013 at 9:55 AMJun 25, 2013 at 9:58 AM

William (Bill) Arthur Nelson, 75, of Ames, died June 21, 2013, at Bethany Manor, after a seven-year struggle with prostate cancer. Bill was born April 17, 1938, at his family homestead near Rutland, N.D., to Ole and Leona (Buetow) Nelson, and was second of six children. He attended Rutland Consolidated School, and then Forman High School, graduating in 1957. His father passed away when Bill was 9 years old, and his mother was hospitalized with respiratory illness during much of his childhood.

William (Bill) Arthur Nelson, 75, of Ames, died June 21, 2013, at Bethany Manor, after a seven-year struggle with prostate cancer. Bill was born April 17, 1938, at his family homestead near Rutland, N.D., to Ole and Leona (Buetow) Nelson, and was second of six children. He attended Rutland Consolidated School, and then Forman High School, graduating in 1957. His father passed away when Bill was 9 years old, and his mother was hospitalized with respiratory illness during much of his childhood.

Though these circumstances created personal and financial hardship for the family, Bill was determined to continue his education. He attended North Dakota State School of Science, in Wahpeton, N.D., for two years, then transferred to North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., and graduated with a bachelorís degree in civil engineering in 1961. After graduation, he moved to Ames, where he was employed at the Iowa Department of Transportation. He worked at the DOT as a highway engineer until he retired in 2000. Bill was a lifelong Lutheran. He was baptized and confirmed at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland, N.D. The pastor of that church, knowing Bill had little adult supervision, would find Bill at the local pool hall and escort him to confirmation class. During his high school years, he attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Forman, N.D. After moving to Ames, he participated in events at the University Lutheran Student Center, where he met Kay Rutenbeck, a chemist at Ames Lab. They became active members of Bethesda Lutheran Church in Ames. Bill married Kay on Dec. 14, 1963, in Ames. They had two children. In his spare time, Bill liked to garden and to travel. He especially enjoyed traveling to visit relatives and to attend Christian camps and conferences. After retirement, he volunteered at the food pantry at his church.

He is survived by his wife, Kay Nelson, of Ames; his siblings, Al Nelson, of Moorhead, Minn., Inez Olson, of Fargo, N.D., Irene Meyer, of Oakes, N.D., Marvin Nelson, of Granbury, Texas, and Loretta Nelson, of Odessa, Texas; two daughters, Lori Nelson, of Iowa City, and Kari Clore, of Cincinnati, Ohio; one grandson, Ethan Nelson-Moore, of Iowa City; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

No public services are planned. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Bethesda Lutheran Church Food Pantry.